Bridle-bit



(No M odel.)

J. A. MANNING.

BRIDLE BIT.

No. 368,776. 4 Patented Aug. 23, 1887;

III". in I WITNESSES: \q 4 iNVENTOR': f -Z %@W BY W 5 I ATTORNEYS.

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UNITED STATES JAMES A. MANNING, OF DANVILLE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO EUGENE PATENT OFFICE.

M. WVILHITE, OF HENDRICKS COUNTY, INDIANA.

BRlDLE-BIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,776, dated August 23,1887.

Application filed May 20, 1887. Serial No.23B,836. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES A. MANNING, of Danville, in the county of Hendricks and State of Indiana, have invented a new and Improved Bridle-Bit, of which the following -is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a bridle-bit which can be instantly converted from a bit for gentle or easy drivihg to a severe bit for curbing frightened or vicious horses. 1

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a view, partly in section, of a snaffle-bit embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-section on the line a; m, Fig. 1; and Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing a modified form of mouth-bar and the manner of securing the head thereon.

The invention will first be described in connection with the drawings, and then pointed out in the claims.

The mouth-bars a a of the bit are preferably made of angular cross-section, either rectangular, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or with the concaved sides, as in Fig. 3; or they may be made round, as in Fig. 5. The bars a a are jointed in the middle, as in the ordinary snafflebit, and on the same are fitted loosely the sleeves b b, that surround the said bars from the outer end to a point near the jointed inner end. The sleeves b b are secured to or formed integral with the usual. rein-rings, c c, and bars or guards (1 cl.

Surrounding each bar a, within the sleeves b b, isa spiral spring, at, the said springs at the inner ends abutting the sleeves b, and the outer ends of the springs abutting the heads 6 of the said bars a. The heads 6 of the bars a are secured to the same by being screwed thereon, and are prevented from unscrewing by the ears f, formed on the said heads and working in the longitudinal grooves 9, formed in the inner surface of the sleeves b; or the head 6 may be secured in place by means of a pin, f, passing through the end of the bar a and fitting in a slot, 6, in the end of the said head, asin Fig. 5, said slotserving to receive the point of a screw-driver for unscrewing said head when the pin f is removed. The outer ends of the sleeves b are closed by screws h, which afford a ready access to the spiral springs d, for repairing or renewing them.

With a bit constructed as above described,

it will be readily seen that with the sleeves b in their normalposition the bit is not at all severe onthe horse; but should the animal be- 63 come frightened or refractory the said sleeves are drawn outward by pulling on the reins, so that an increased leverage is obtained on the bit, and when the angular-formed mouthbars are employed they are instantly brought 65 allowed to remain in their normal position,

and only while the animal is in a vicious mood or when he becomes frightened is the increased leverage exerted on the bit, or the angular mouth-bar resorted to, should the latter form of bit employed.

Instead ofthe snaffle form of bit, a single mouth-bar may be used, the invention being equally adapted to both forms.

It will be understood that the details of con struction may be varied without departing S:

from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A bit comprising a mouth-bar and springactuated sliding sleeves at the opposite sides of the center of said bar, and adapted to be connected to the reins, substantially as set forth.

2. A bit comprising a small mouth-bar and a larger two-part mouth-bar surrounding the smaller bar at opposite sides of its center,and

provided with rein-connecting devices, and

springs forcing the inner ends of the two-part bartoward each other, whereby when the ends 10o I them to 70 of the two-part bar are drawn outward the springs and secured to the bit-rings, substansmaller inner bar will be exposed, substantially as described. tially as set forth. 5. The combination, in a bridle-bit, of the r 5 3. In an extensible bridle-bit, the combinamouth-bar a a, having headed ends 0, formed 5 tion, with the jointed mouth-bar, of sleeves withearsf, thesleevesbb,f0rmedwith grooves thereon and springs surrounding the said 9, in which the said ears work, and the spiral mouth-bar within the said sleeves, substansprings d, substantially as described. tially as shown and described. 1

4. The combination, in a bridle-bit, of the JAMEb MANNING- IO mouth-bar having headed outer ends, spiral springs surrounding the said outer ends, and sleeves surrounding the mouth bars and Witnesses:

J. W. DnMrsEY, THOMAS J. CoFER. 

